100 Years Ago: Demobilization in Spring, King George Thanks People of United States, Theatre Nuisances

The Intelligencer December 9, 1918 (page 1)

“Fighters Start To Return Home In Springtime. Halifax. Demobilization of Canada’s men at present somewhere on German territory will not start until spring. When it does they will come home at the rate of 20,000 a month, so that the whole operation will be finished in five months roughly. … The boats bringing the men home will carry them in batches of 500, arranged by military districts. … This unit of 500 was fixed on as the easiest way to handle the men in train loads on this side, but it apparently kills all hopes of the men being brought back together as members on the battalion or battery with which they served together at the front. The number 500 has been fixed as the ideal train load for 12 coaches, these averaging 42 men per coach.”

The Intelligencer December 9, 1918 (page 1)

“A message from King George, expressing the hope that Britons and Americans may be united in peace as they were in war, was read at a meeting in the Hippodrome arranged as the climax of New York’s celebration of Britain Day.

The King’s message, … stated that ‘the people of the British Empire join with me in thanking you and those associated with you for your efforts in promoting this celebration, which will be welcomed as a proof of the true and lasting friendship of the United States. It will be a particular satisfaction to my navy and army to feel that they have won the esteem of the nation which has sent so many gallant men to suffer with them the trials of this great war, and to share in the glories of final victory.”

The Intelligencer December 9, 1918 (page 4)

“Theatre Nuisances. Now that the war is over and presumably safe for democracy, why not make it pleasant as well and remove some of the nuisances which make peace something like what Sherman said war was. This reform should include the ostracism and just punishment of people who come late to entertainments, who talk and giggle while the entertainment is going on to the discomfort of entertainers and patrons, and generally act as if they considered there was only one show going on and that the ‘holy show’ they were making of themselves. If this pestilential class can be eliminated or reformed the war will not have been in vain after all.”